Closing Schools and Building Prisons

It's frightening that they are talking about closing schools. Not a couple schools. FORTY SCHOOLS. At the same time we are able to build a new jail downtown, although paying to operate it isn't in the budget. There is a new Maximum Security prison going up in Canon City and they are looking to build a new 1200 bed women's prison in Hudson. We don't know of any plans to build treatment centers for people with mental health issues or substance abuse problems. Priorities, priorities, priorities....

Denver Public Schools leaders are planning to release on Oct. 2 a list of potential school closures, giving school board members six weeks to weigh the proposal before a final vote in mid-November.

Board members Monday gave informal approval to the timeline while clearly not relishing what is expected to be a painful and controversial process.

"It's going to feel like six months," board member Bruce Hoyt said in the board's first work session of the new school year. Most students in DPS return to class Monday.

DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet is expected at the Oct. 2 board meeting to present a comprehensive proposal for change in the school district, including the possible closure of as many as 30 to 40 schools.

Rocky Mountain News